Canadian men’s sitting volleyball team set for Para Pan Am Games

GUADALAJARA (November 9, 2011) – The Canadian men’s sitting volleyball team is ready to battle for a berth for next summer’s Paralympic Games at the Para Pan Am Games which get underway Saturday. The winner of the tournament earns a ticket to the 2012 Paralympics in London.

‘’I think we are playing as a team much more consistently than in the past,’’ said Canadian team captain Austin Hinchey of Edmonton. ‘’We have been building for this tournament since the worlds and I am excited to get started.’’

Along with Hinchey other players on the team from Alberta are Bradley Quast and Chad Drummond, also from Edmonton, Larry Matthews and David Marchand of St. Albert, Mikael Bartholdy and Douglas Learoyd of Calgary and Eric Dechaine of St. Lina.

Other team members are Jason Naval of Toronto, Jose Rebelo of St-Hubert, Que., and Gregory Stewart of Kamloops, B.C. Bartholdy, Learoyd, Dechaine, and Rebelo are the most experienced players on the team with 42 international matches each on their resume.

‘’This is a great opportunity for our team and this program to measure ourselves against some of the top teams in our zone,’’ said Canada’s head coach Ian Halliday of Calgary. ‘’Two years ago, we had identified these Games as our target competition and since then we have been working hard to achieve our goals at this event.’’

Canada has a busy schedule with five round robin matches in three days. The tournament starts Monday (November 14) with Canada against Colombia, on Tuesday the Canadians face the U.S., and Mexico and on Wednesday Brazil and Costa Rica.

The top four advance to the semifinals on Thursday November 17 with the medal matches set for November 18.

‘’Although the core group of athletes has been consistent and will be counted on to provide leadership and experience, our success will be dependent on the contributions of all eleven athletes,’’ added Halliday. ‘’With five round robin matches in three days, our ability to stay healthy and focussed will be important.’’

Brazil is ranked fifth in the world, the U.S., 12th and the Canadians 19th. The other three countries are not ranked.